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That's interesting! I don't really know what you mean by a specimen though. My ignorance entirely...
Will you trim it to keep it like it is or let it produce side stems that you'll shape?
I brought a gooseberry back from the brink recently but it's the first I've grown so keen to find tips on how to proceed.

In that position I would have been tempted to grow it as a three branch cordon against the brick wall (if it is near enough) This is very successful, bears heavily and does away with fighting the thorns. It might still be possible to try to move it nearer when its dormant again.

We only have one Gooseberry bush which was here when we came. Planted for some reason against the chicken run wire fence. They eat the leaves off on that side and it usually gets attacked and ends up bare anyway. Luckily we don't actually eat Gooseberries! Yours looks good and really healthy and a standard would be impressive. Would it need supporting on the stem, when it was fruiting?

Pretty sure it will need supporting. I tried making a standard once but the main stem wasn't very strong and I gave up on it in the end and let it revert to a bush. Hope it succeeds for you - I was disappointed mine didn't work. Give it a good strong stake.

Looking forward to update photos as it progresses!
Given that it may need staking (it'd be annoying to get ripening fruit & then get it catapulted off in a strong wind) maybe an acute V of 3 bamboo canes might work? With some of the modern contact adhesives on the market, it'd be quite easy to lay down the canes in a narrow fan shape then glue a couple of horizontal bars across to reinforce & hold the shape.
Shame it's so blooming cold & damp here! Now mine is nicely established I really need to get out & have a look & see what's going to work for it

Had a chance to read up so I know exactly what you mean by specimen/lollipop now. The only possible problem might be the time it takes to shape the plant versus it's serviceable life?
Yours must be an early or mid season fruiter as you've already got blossom & the leaves are noticeably glossy compared to mine if that helps ID it.

Mine's a Captivator, mostly thornless, red dessert type. I was looking at it earlier (despite the rain & cold) & it seems to want to be 3 or 4 stems up the wooden fence. No rush to start clipping too soon though, I guess?
Just don't want to make the mistake I made with my blackcurrants by letting them get too big until harvesting becomes a lengthy task that's too easy to put off...